Hobbies and Crafts

~~~~~~~~~ to Everyone :-) :-) :-) <3

((((((( Kandj))))))) <3 <3 <3

No sun to speak of here Ann, I did think it would break through though as it was trying very hard :-D But we had such thick Fog/Mist this morning it has taken most of the day to clear.
Glad your pipe is holding fine :-D
We have had a couple of Moorhens in the garden today ,probably from next door (who have a little lake).
I think Kandj being so low has easily picked up this bug easily ,maybe from just shopping. I am surprised really that she hasn't down down with one of these horrible nasty bugs before now.I think they are tailing off around here at last. A couple of weeks ago everyone and their Mother had something :-S I can't believe how lucky we have been this winter .The only sickly one was my Son and that lasted for a couple of weeks. Maybe I am made of stern stuff LOL
Roll on Spring .We are waiting :-D :-D

Oh goodness Kandj, how did you pick that up? I hope it will clear quickly and you soon feel better.

Jane the pipe is holding, it is dripping but it was only an inch collected in almost three hours and, as that is all outside it is not a problem. Once we can get the internal tap changed we will be fine as OH is going to completely change the set up when the weather improves. the snow is almost completely gone now from the garden and today has been sunny and spring like.

I hope your burst pipe is all good now that OH has sorted it Ann. I can imagine Plumbers will be very hard to get hold of at the moment :-S We were a bit worried about our 2 showers the other day as neither would work. But yesterday afternoon things started to trickle through and all is well now :-D (PHEW)
Things are gradually thawing now although we still have a fair bit of snow in the garden.The Birds don't seem to have been so desperate today on the feeder and there hasn't been quite so many fierce battles :-D A Big Rat turned up yesterday :-S :-S.It was quite a whopper.
Lets hope all this awful bad weather is behind us now and that Spring can be sprung :-D

Poor Kandj has a sick bug :-( and is feeling rotten. Hope it won't last for too long Kandj <3 <3

Lots of feeding going on earlier with great tits even going to the ground feeder and one of the fieldfares re-visiting to look for apples, they managed to clear two large apples yesterday.

Earlier OH was up a ladder cutting and sealing off the outside pipe to the garden tap. Inside tap that controls the water to there wouldn't shut off so a burst pipe when it started to thaw this morning. Plumber has been left a message to ring re the tap, hoping he will like an inside job but not holding our breath, he will no doubt be inundated. (OH is 80 this year, I do wish he would remember that!) Anyway he managed a temporary job on it so we could put the water back on and run the washing machine. Might switch the water off over night or if we go out if we are unsure about it.

I am so pleased I have an OH that can do these things thanks to his training as an artificer in the RN. It may not have taught him plumbing but it gave him some knowledge of these things and a 'can do' attitude.
:-) :-)

Hi Jem

this morning when I measured it we had 2 inches of snow but it has been snowing heavily the last hour so no doubt it will be deeper now. We stocked up on Wednesday and haven't been out since. Had to cancel a trip to Hampshire though to see the Great grandsons which was a shame.

Hope you are all keeping warm and safe and not venturing out unless absolutely necessary <3 <3 <3

Rhodri is hating what little snow we have btw :-0 :-D

:-D LG, we had one a couple of years ago when it snowed but don't usually get them. they love the old apples we throw out for them and the blackbirds.

Well I'm blowed Ann I have just come onto the thread to say I had 2 fieldfares on the holly tree this morning. This is a first for this garden :-D

Ooh and this morning we had two fieldfares, one quite docile with the other birds and the other a bully, they don't appear to be a pair but I think one must be a male and one a female.

we have also had the usual starlings en mass, dunnocks, sparrows, great tits, robin, wood pigeon, magpie, blackbirds

This afternoon we had a Fieldfare in the garden.

We have quite a few birds but our snow is only a couple of centimetres (more 'promised' later I think). We have mainlly had the usual 2 male blackbirds and one female, starlings (plenty), sparrows, wood pigeon, wren, and a couple of goldfinches. Not been watching closely all morning but not actually seen any of the blue or great tits.

We've got a fair amount of snow but it has brought some Redwings and Fieldfares with it. There are twice as many blackbirds as usual in the garden. Have only seen one goldfinch today, usually there are four or more around the feeder at their feeding time.

Like Jane, we have lots of snow. When it isn't actually snowing, there is a bitter wind blowing the snow around. The only bird I've seen all day is a poor pigeon sitting on the fence looking frozen. I filled the feeders just before dark last night and they have hardly gone down at all. I think the birds have more sense than to venture out in this.

I haven't attempted to defrost the bird bath today as it is frozen solid with about 6" of snow sitting on top of the ice.

Thinking of you Kandj <3 You have to learn a whole new way of life and it is bound to be hard to adjust but take your time and only do things when you are ready. <3

no snow here, lovely and sunny and you are not so far away as the crow flies Jane. Stay in and keep warm.

Thinking of you Kandj, tears will help and people normally don't mind a few tears from a hug as hugs are good too. Things will get easier as time goes on Kandj, it is early days yet, just let yourself grieve for as long as you want to. Maybe when the weather gets warmer just go out for short times.

Birds are hungry here but seem to have disappeared for a couple of hours. The robin was brave this morning he/she was up on the patio table right outside the window eating the mealy worms put out for the blackbird.

Just a quick post now from a very snowy Kettering. Kandj thanks everyone for all their continuing thoughts and wishes. She is struggling somewhat when it comes to getting out and about. I think meeting people at the moment is still hard for her and hugs make her weep :-( which is understandable. Emotions are still very raw. But I am sure in time things will become a little easier. <3 Kandj

Oh my the snow is coming down again thick and fast.It's blowing around a lot too now.
Thomas is out there somewhere !!

A Red Kite just flew so low over our garden ! I h ope he hasnt spotted Thomas. :-S

Yesterday was a reasonable day so I had a day of bits and pieces shopping and collecting new batteries from the hospital in case the forecast weather happened.

On the way home I saw a beautiful green woodpecker intent on piercing the grass of a nursing home, while it hunted for food. I haven't seen one for ages, although we have had them in the garden at times.

Today the snow has arrived and the ground feeding birds are looking out for food. I put some out at lunch time and it was gone in minutes because seagulls swooped in and took the lot. I usually throw some under the bushes to give other birds a chance, so will have to make sure I sneak out unseen by the 'gull guardians' tomorrow.
The bird bath is frozen and likely to stay that way for a few days,( maximum local temperature will be 0) so that will need sorting too.
There is still the fluted sheet of ice on the grass that I took from the birdbath at the weekend.

Ann I thought I did a post !!!! I'm sure I did . But with this Error Message coming up all the time maybe it didnt go through. I am fine just blooming cold LOL . We haven't had much snow to speak of,just some heavy flurries . But my word it is getting colder and colder now. I can't keep the bird bath ice free and as for keeping the window feeder topped up well I can't keep up with that either.
I have seen some Red Kites and Buzzards recently.Unusual for this time of year.They must be hungry.

I hope everyone here manages to stay warm and safe in this dreadful weather and worse to come by the sound of things :-S. Ann you did right not to risk the journey to Hampshire now. Better to be safe than sorry. April is not too far away.

The birds don't seem to feel the cold much. it is still minus 1 outside and they are still stocking up, as we have just been at Tesco. Not with a huge load, just enough tos ee us through the weekend if it does get bad. We are a bit miffed because we have had to cancel a trip down to see the babies in Hampshire, didn't want to risk it. Can't get there mow until April.

We are having a pair of long tailed tits visit so they must be starting to pair uop. Apparently they only go round in flocks out of the mating season when they become territorial.

von, how lovely we don't get those little birds here.

Not long in and it is now snowing. so not going anywhere else, although the sun is shining through the snow so it won't be much.. I had the dentist and OH had to collect new glasses. My next appointment will be around 21st March apparently I have to wait for a letter from 'head office'! :-D

Thinking of you Kandj and wondering if youa re still at home or if you have gone to family, hope wherever you are you can keep warm and safe. <3 <3 <3

Not seen Jane on here for nearly a week, hope you are ok Jane

Morning all
That’s lovely Von. Goldcrests and Firecrests are such pretty birds but so tiny. I’ve only ever seen a couple at our old house but they were gorgeous little birds.

Yesterday OH and I were at the window watching half a dozen long tailed tits on the suet balls when a rat ran across the patio :-(. I have told himself that if I see another one we will definitely be getting another cat, whether he likes it or not.

Thinking of you Kandj <3